Black Girl Sunscreen: An Honest Review
For those of us who are new to the world of sunscreen, choosing the right one among a sea of options is not an easy task. Black Girl Sunscreen (BGS) is not the first sunscreen without a white cast on the market. But it may be the most popular among melanated people.
Their website states that it is a product made by women of color for people of color. The sunscreen is marketed as being made with natural ingredients without harmful inclusions like oxybenzone or octinoxate.
First Impressions
Though comparable to other sunscreens made with natural ingredients, what makes BGS stand out is the price. The Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 retails for $18.99 online. $14.99 at Ulta or Target in-store. And the Make it Matte SPF 45 retails for $21.99.
In April, I initially tried this sunscreen while the humidity was low and the air still had some chill left behind by winter. I am a Black person who has struggled with oily acne-prone skin for most of my life. With that struggle comes hyperpigmentation which is offset by wearing sunscreen. Choosing a good sunscreen is crucial for me as my skin can easily get sensitized by new products I add to my routine.
This product was a dream, though. On the first application, it felt rich on my brown skin. Though it dried without a white cast, it still took time to work this product into my skin. Nonetheless, I was highly impressed with this product on the first try. Before this, I had been religiously using Supergoop but wanted to cut some spending from my beauty budget.
Upon letting this product dry down, my skin felt marvelous. Protected, moisturized, and it even left me with a beautiful glow. I was so shocked that it didn’t make me look like a grease ball. I was in love 😊❤️
For those of us who are new to the world of sunscreen, choosing the right one among a sea of options is not an easy task. Black Girl Sunscreen (BGS) is not the first sunscreen without a white cast on the market. But it may be the most popular among melanated people.
Their website states that it is a product made by women of color for people of color. The sunscreen is marketed as being made with natural ingredients without harmful inclusions like oxybenzone or octinoxate.
First Impressions
Though comparable to other sunscreens made with natural ingredients, what makes BGS stand out is the price. The Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 retails for $18.99 online. $14.99 at Ulta or Target in-store. And the Make it Matte SPF 45 retails for $21.99.
In April, I initially tried this sunscreen while the humidity was low and the air still had some chill left behind by winter. I am a Black person who has struggled with oily acne-prone skin for most of my life. With that struggle comes hyperpigmentation which is offset by wearing sunscreen. Choosing a good sunscreen is crucial for me as my skin can easily get sensitized by new products I add to my routine.
This product was a dream, though. On the first application, it felt rich on my brown skin. Though it dried without a white cast, it still took time to work this product into my skin. Nonetheless, I was highly impressed with this product on the first try. Before this, I had been religiously using Supergoop but wanted to cut some spending from my beauty budget.
Upon letting this product dry down, my skin felt marvelous. Protected, moisturized, and it even left me with a beautiful glow. I was so shocked that it didn’t make me look like a grease ball. I was in love 😊❤️
The Make it Matte sunscreen comes in a bottle with a pump. It’s not white and creamy like its sister. It feels like a serum and has a gel-like consistency. Ingredients like squalane, aloe vera, and coconut oil do a remarkable job making sure that this product is soothing and moisturizing.
Although it is mattifying, it still provides the perfect balance for my oily skin. If you are looking for an affordable dupe to the Supergoop formula, you found it.
Final Thoughts
Fast forward to June, and the weather had changed. The humidity was at an all-time high, and my skin was not having fun with the sunscreen lotion applied to my face. This is why I use products for a while before giving a full review. It takes about 30-60 days to see actual results. And it took my skin just about that long to decide it didn’t like this. Well, I didn’t like it on my face.
Make it Matte, however, was a different story. Just like the Supergoop sunscreen, my skin LOVED this. Its gel-like texture was perfect for those humid days in the summertime. The product glided onto my skin like butter and instantly melted to the touch. All in all, I think it’s safe to say I found a good substitute for half the price.
The BGS sunscreen lotion worked well on my body, providing the same glow and moisture it did on my face. It wasn’t too much for my body. It soaked it up! Overall, the moisturizing sunscreen lotion is excellent for those who hate a white cast to get sun protection.
While the product is very moisturizing, I’m afraid that it may be too much for your face if you have combo or oily skin. But for the body?! Oh, it gives everything it’s supposed to 😉
Rating:
Accessibility 🥀🥀🥀
Sustainably 🥀🥀
Price 🥀🥀🥀
Overall 🥀🥀🥀🥀
So is it worth it?
In my opinion, it’s one of the most affordable Black-owned sunscreens available right now. But if you don’t happen to have a Target or Ulta near you, do I think you should hop three buses across town to get one? That’s up to you. So far, I love the BGS line and that it is marketed to us. If you have the money to spare, give it a try. But there are plenty of other sunscreens out there if you don’t happen to find a Target near you.
There are many things that I would like to see BGS do, such as more transparency in where they source their ingredients. And how they plan to implement sustainable processes into their company. The company received a private investment of $1 million, so Forbes reported back in May of 2020. I would say that the business is doing well enough to start thinking of the climate in their business practices. I guess we will wait and see.
Not only do you need to apply sunscreen before spending the day outside regardless of season, rain, or shine. But you also need to reapply. I know, I know. So many rules to keep our bodies healthy, right? What kind of sun protection are you using these days?
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